POLITICS
TURKEY WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH ARMENIA UNTIL OCCUPITED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN ARE RELEASED, RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN
At a traditional briefing, spokesman to the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Khazar Ibrahim quoted Turkish Premier Recep Teyyip Erdogan as saying at the 44th Munich international conference on the security policy that Turkey would not cooperate with Armenia until occupied territories of Azerbaijan are released. Erdogan said this in response to Armenian Foreign Minister Vardand Oskanian`s accusations that Ankara does not cooperate with Yerevan although Armenia is at war with Azerbaijan rather than Turkey.
Speaking at the conference Erdogan told of Turkey`s role in the international arena, saying Ankara may became a bridge between Europe and Asia. According to Ibrahim, at that moment, Armenian Minister accused the Turkish side of being inconsistent and that it does not cooperate with Yerevan.
“In response, Erdogan said Turkey will not cooperate with Armenian until Azerbaijani territories are released fully, until Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced people return to their homes,” Ibrahim said.
According to him, Erdogan also said a number of steps to establish cooperation was taken during his term of office: the air communication between Turkey and Armenia had been opened, and the Armenian church had been rebuilt in Turkey. e
“Moreover, Prime Minister noted about 40 thousand citizens of Armenia live in Turkey,” Foreign Ministry’s press secretary said.